Stocks rallied for the second straight week as the key indices have now just about recaptured all of their losses incurred in August. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (chart) had one of its best weekly showings of the year gaining over 3%, the Nasdaq (chart) closed the week up 1.7%, the S&P 500 (chart) +1.98% and the small-cap Russell 2000 (chart) finished the week up 2.37%. Over the past couple of years, time and time again whenever equities as a whole have had a five percent pullback or so, such as what we experienced in August, a significant rally ensues and the bull market seemingly resumes. They say markets are forward looking indicators, well we must be in store for quite the year-end closeout, or are we?

This upcoming week the FOMC meeting will take center stage. The debate is on as to whether or not the Fed will start reducing its bond and mortgage back securities purchases and what effect this could have on the markets. My feelings are that there is still enough tepid economic data coming in for the Fed not to begin to taper. However, there are plenty of pundits out there that argue that the economy is beginning to show pockets of strength which could give the Fed the green light to begin with a small reduction with their future purchases. Either way, the technicals are now on their way to overbought territory, and interest rates are continuing to rise with the 10-year treasury note (chart) closing in on 3%. This could be a one-two punch to once again slow down and even potentially reverse this most recent rally.

That said, if you are a technical trader, this is an almost perfect environment to trade in. Support levels are continuing to be honored as well as resistance marks. We now find ourselves butting up against the upper end of the trading range in the S&P 500 (chart) and we could very well be headed back to support levels which in this case would be the 1630 zone on the S&P (chart). If the markets embrace the Fed’s action or lack thereof, a breakout above the all time high of 1709 of this key index could very well be in the cards.

Good luck to all and have a great week 🙂

~George